"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 1:3-7
There is always Hope in Christ. It is so easy to pick up the daily headlines and see the hopelessness in the world we live in. Mass shootings, corrupt politics, wars being fought with no end in sight.are some of the hopelessness we see. Political debates which seem to divide this once great nation into two very different camps and wondering if we will ever be unified again. Kid's graduating into a world of uncertainty and worrying for them whether they will ever survive what belies ahead of them. Like the verse above I remind myself of my hope in Christ.
It was in 1974 when I made my own springboard into the world beyond high school. Like today the world was a very scary place. The Viet Nam war was ending and our veteran's were returning home not to a hero's welcome, but to cold shoulders and ambivalence. Drugs were beyond rampant as people disparately were looking for something to take their mind of the hopelessness of their existence. Sex seem to be the buzz as the beginnings of the Abortion industry was cranking up and kids were receiving free condoms at their college dispensary and were reminded that they were meant to experience the sexual revolution.
Our political climate was crumbling as we began to see the Nixon administration crumble before our eyes with the announcement of his resignation rather than face impeachment proceedings for his part in Watergate. For the first time people were wondering if we cannot trust our politicians then who can we trust?
1974 was a very good year for me. That was the year I discovered my hope in Christ through a simple prayer of salvation I said at the Minnetonka Coffee House, next to a small Community church in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The seed had been planted. Little did I know that I was on the greatest adventure of my life. My hope in Christ was with me as I attended a local Community College and then to a 4 year college. My hope in Christ help me in terms of building my esteem from self centered to 'Christ' centered. My hope in Christ found a college fellowship group where I was encouraged in everything I did. It kept me away from the rampant drug scene. It kept me away from the dark side of life as though I had this constant sunshine glowing on my life.
My hope in Christ sent me on missions trips, to graduate school, launched me into my career, helped me meet some pretty neat Christian ladies before introducing me to the one who would be my soul mate and wife. My hope in Christ lead us to adopt two very beautiful children and raise them as our own. My hope in Christ kept us moving one step at a time when tragically and suddenly our youngest child was prematurely went to heaven. My hope in Christ kept our family strong as we each traveled the forlorn journey of grief.
Just as there was hopelessness in 1974 there is hopelessness in today's world, but remembered a simple prayer of salvation is all you need to do to create a life of hope for yourself. Once again there is political corruption, seemingly endless wars, continuous drug use and free condoms being handed out at the college dispensary, but remember there is always hope in Christ to help you in this seemingly hopeless world.
1974 was a very good year for me. That was the year I discovered my hope in Christ through a simple prayer of salvation I said at the Minnetonka Coffee House, next to a small Community church in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The seed had been planted. Little did I know that I was on the greatest adventure of my life. My hope in Christ was with me as I attended a local Community College and then to a 4 year college. My hope in Christ help me in terms of building my esteem from self centered to 'Christ' centered. My hope in Christ found a college fellowship group where I was encouraged in everything I did. It kept me away from the rampant drug scene. It kept me away from the dark side of life as though I had this constant sunshine glowing on my life.
My hope in Christ sent me on missions trips, to graduate school, launched me into my career, helped me meet some pretty neat Christian ladies before introducing me to the one who would be my soul mate and wife. My hope in Christ lead us to adopt two very beautiful children and raise them as our own. My hope in Christ kept us moving one step at a time when tragically and suddenly our youngest child was prematurely went to heaven. My hope in Christ kept our family strong as we each traveled the forlorn journey of grief.
Just as there was hopelessness in 1974 there is hopelessness in today's world, but remembered a simple prayer of salvation is all you need to do to create a life of hope for yourself. Once again there is political corruption, seemingly endless wars, continuous drug use and free condoms being handed out at the college dispensary, but remember there is always hope in Christ to help you in this seemingly hopeless world.
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